LB Gerri Green Quotes
July 25, 2017
MSU Media Day
On what he expects from the defense this season…
“I expect us to come out and play fast, physical and aggressive and get back to being the guys we want to be; 11 guys just out there having fun on the field.”
On his impressions of Coach Todd Grantham…
“He is a very fiery and passionate guy, and he comes with it every day on the field. He gets after players. You will hear him and the guys respond to it in a positive way. They don’t hang their heads. They go out there and make plays off it.”
On what Grantham brings to this year’s defense compared to last season…
“We are focusing on this year, but Coach Grantham did come with the energy that we needed. Everyone wanted to forget about last year and just move forward. The way he came in and attacked the defense and challenged us to play faster and more aggressive, we really needed that.”
On how last season motivates them to become a better defense this season…
“It’s in the back of our heads, but we know we don’t want to be that defense from last year. We know that is not us and that is not Mississippi State defense. We are going to use that as what we can be and show everyone what we want to be and can be.”
On the differences he notices with Coach Grantham…
“We are getting after the quarterback with a lot of pressure from all angles. Really it’s just different ways to get to the quarterback.”
OL Martinas Rankin Quotes
July 25, 2017
MSU Media Day
On how he feels about the position Coach Hevesy has everyone in going into camp…
“I am just looking forward to going out and getting better and also building great chemistry with the offensive line.”
On Elton Jenkins playing center this fall…
“I expect what he always does. He’s a great player and leader. He always talks. I expect big things out of him, and I know he expects big things out of me.”
On Elton’s communication skills…
“We all have to communicate. I have to communicate as tackle and he has to communicate as center. Playing as center he will get even better at communicating.”
On how confident he is going into his senior season…
“I look forward to the camp. With this experience I have now I know what to expect and what to try to bring out of the other guys. Being around for awhile does help with my confidence.”
On his preseason nominations…
“I don’t worry about it. It’s great to have it, but I have to focus on what’s ahead. Honestly I feel like I have a lot of things to prove to myself so the stuff I see really does not phase me.”
On his impression of the younger tackles…
“They are going to be great players in the future. They have a lot of talent, so they have to keep getting that experience so that in the future they will be something special.”
#98 Jeffery Simmons – DL – So.
On the start of training camp…
“I feel way better. I am ready to attack it. This is all I’ve been waiting on. We have been working hard as a team, and I feel like everybody is ready.”
On Coach Todd Grantham…
“I love him, his energy and his enthusiasm. He has a feeling for the players. Getting to know him was kind of easy,, but we are still trying to get him. I talked to him over the break we had, and I told him ‘I want you to get me to be the top pass rusher in the SEC and be the best.’”
On the defense this year…
“I think we are closer this year. Being a football team, being a championship team, you have to be close and be one unit. I feel like we have come a long way. We worked hard this summer with everybody together.”
On his leadership…
“Coming in after all the things that have happened to me, I have always been a leader from high school on and off the field. I feel like I can stand up to Coach Mullen’s standards as being a leader. That is something I always wanted to do. I feel like I am getting to that point.”
On his personal growth…
“I have developed a lot. Just putting everything behind me and moving forward to the SEC Honor Roll. Doing what I have to do in the classroom and being a leader on the team, I feel like I have grown a lot. It’s like what Coach Mullen always says ‘Focus on what you have in front of you right now.’ That’s what I have been doing.”
On the newcomers…
“Those guys have been working. Kobe Jones, his motor has helped the d-linemen out because with his motor coming off the edge it will help me inside. Maybe I will not get double-teamed every play. With him coming off the edge it will help us a lot. With the JUCO guys, hopefully they will be ready to play.”
#83 Jordan Thomas – TE – Sr.
On his excitement level…
“I am very excited. We are excited as a unit to get everything going both as a tight end group and as a team. We are excited to take all the running and working out that we have been doing during the summer and put it all together on the field. We are excited.”
WR – Gabe Myles – Sr.
On advice for the new guys for camp…
“They just have to have the attitude to keep going when it gets hard. They are young and there is a lot of learning that has to go on, but as long as we continue to fight, trust and grow together, we will grow.”
On Nick Fitzgerald…
“I see more assertiveness. I can’t point out any negatives because we are still working and growing as a team.”
On if there is pressure on the wide receiver group…
“I wouldn’t call it pressure, but we do play with a chip on our shoulder. We may be one of the weakest groups, as other people say, but that opens up a challenge for us.”
On the growth of new players…
“I have seen them grow. They are still making sure that they learn all the ins and outs of the offense, and I have seen more confidence. Before it was, ‘I don’t know what I want to do.’ Now it’s, ‘I’m ready to get the ball and make a play.’”
On his leadership…
“I don’t want say that I go in thinking that I have to be a leader because leading has to come naturally. I am not the vocal type, but I lead by example. I am going to work hard. If I feel that something needs to be said to you, I won’t say it out loud but I will pull you to the side. If you lose sight of having fun, you lose sight of everything in the sport.”
DB – Brandon Bryant– Jr.
On competition with the safeties…
“The competition will elevate everybody’s style of play because we all are trying to get better at the end of the day. The goal of the season is to get better and have a good time on the field.”
On Coach Todd Grantham…
“He is a great coach, and he is a hard coach on us at times. He’s hard on us because we have to be good and do good. He sets the mood and pace for us every day.”
On Coach Ron English…
“He is a good coach, a great guy, and a great motivator. It’s not all about football with him, and that is what makes him a great coach.”
On the upcoming season…
“This season is going to be special. Over the summer we came together, bonded and chilled together as one. I say this will be special because this is one of the best feelings I have had about a team since I have been here. We just have to find our identity. We want it to be fast, physical, and aggressive, and we are going to work towards that in camp this week. Every rep at a time we are going to give relentless effort. Once we form our fast, physical, aggressive identity, then we will play like that all the time.”
July 25, 2017
MSU Media Day
On what he expects from the defense this season…
“I expect us to come out and play fast, physical and aggressive and get back to being the guys we want to be; 11 guys just out there having fun on the field.”
On his impressions of Coach Todd Grantham…
“He is a very fiery and passionate guy, and he comes with it every day on the field. He gets after players. You will hear him and the guys respond to it in a positive way. They don’t hang their heads. They go out there and make plays off it.”
On what Grantham brings to this year’s defense compared to last season…
“We are focusing on this year, but Coach Grantham did come with the energy that we needed. Everyone wanted to forget about last year and just move forward. The way he came in and attacked the defense and challenged us to play faster and more aggressive, we really needed that.”
On how last season motivates them to become a better defense this season…
“It’s in the back of our heads, but we know we don’t want to be that defense from last year. We know that is not us and that is not Mississippi State defense. We are going to use that as what we can be and show everyone what we want to be and can be.”
On the differences he notices with Coach Grantham…
“We are getting after the quarterback with a lot of pressure from all angles. Really it’s just different ways to get to the quarterback.”
OL Martinas Rankin Quotes
July 25, 2017
MSU Media Day
On how he feels about the position Coach Hevesy has everyone in going into camp…
“I am just looking forward to going out and getting better and also building great chemistry with the offensive line.”
On Elton Jenkins playing center this fall…
“I expect what he always does. He’s a great player and leader. He always talks. I expect big things out of him, and I know he expects big things out of me.”
On Elton’s communication skills…
“We all have to communicate. I have to communicate as tackle and he has to communicate as center. Playing as center he will get even better at communicating.”
On how confident he is going into his senior season…
“I look forward to the camp. With this experience I have now I know what to expect and what to try to bring out of the other guys. Being around for awhile does help with my confidence.”
On his preseason nominations…
“I don’t worry about it. It’s great to have it, but I have to focus on what’s ahead. Honestly I feel like I have a lot of things to prove to myself so the stuff I see really does not phase me.”
On his impression of the younger tackles…
“They are going to be great players in the future. They have a lot of talent, so they have to keep getting that experience so that in the future they will be something special.”
#98 Jeffery Simmons – DL – So.
On the start of training camp…
“I feel way better. I am ready to attack it. This is all I’ve been waiting on. We have been working hard as a team, and I feel like everybody is ready.”
On Coach Todd Grantham…
“I love him, his energy and his enthusiasm. He has a feeling for the players. Getting to know him was kind of easy,, but we are still trying to get him. I talked to him over the break we had, and I told him ‘I want you to get me to be the top pass rusher in the SEC and be the best.’”
On the defense this year…
“I think we are closer this year. Being a football team, being a championship team, you have to be close and be one unit. I feel like we have come a long way. We worked hard this summer with everybody together.”
On his leadership…
“Coming in after all the things that have happened to me, I have always been a leader from high school on and off the field. I feel like I can stand up to Coach Mullen’s standards as being a leader. That is something I always wanted to do. I feel like I am getting to that point.”
On his personal growth…
“I have developed a lot. Just putting everything behind me and moving forward to the SEC Honor Roll. Doing what I have to do in the classroom and being a leader on the team, I feel like I have grown a lot. It’s like what Coach Mullen always says ‘Focus on what you have in front of you right now.’ That’s what I have been doing.”
On the newcomers…
“Those guys have been working. Kobe Jones, his motor has helped the d-linemen out because with his motor coming off the edge it will help me inside. Maybe I will not get double-teamed every play. With him coming off the edge it will help us a lot. With the JUCO guys, hopefully they will be ready to play.”
#83 Jordan Thomas – TE – Sr.
On his excitement level…
“I am very excited. We are excited as a unit to get everything going both as a tight end group and as a team. We are excited to take all the running and working out that we have been doing during the summer and put it all together on the field. We are excited.”
WR – Gabe Myles – Sr.
On advice for the new guys for camp…
“They just have to have the attitude to keep going when it gets hard. They are young and there is a lot of learning that has to go on, but as long as we continue to fight, trust and grow together, we will grow.”
On Nick Fitzgerald…
“I see more assertiveness. I can’t point out any negatives because we are still working and growing as a team.”
On if there is pressure on the wide receiver group…
“I wouldn’t call it pressure, but we do play with a chip on our shoulder. We may be one of the weakest groups, as other people say, but that opens up a challenge for us.”
On the growth of new players…
“I have seen them grow. They are still making sure that they learn all the ins and outs of the offense, and I have seen more confidence. Before it was, ‘I don’t know what I want to do.’ Now it’s, ‘I’m ready to get the ball and make a play.’”
On his leadership…
“I don’t want say that I go in thinking that I have to be a leader because leading has to come naturally. I am not the vocal type, but I lead by example. I am going to work hard. If I feel that something needs to be said to you, I won’t say it out loud but I will pull you to the side. If you lose sight of having fun, you lose sight of everything in the sport.”
DB – Brandon Bryant– Jr.
On competition with the safeties…
“The competition will elevate everybody’s style of play because we all are trying to get better at the end of the day. The goal of the season is to get better and have a good time on the field.”
On Coach Todd Grantham…
“He is a great coach, and he is a hard coach on us at times. He’s hard on us because we have to be good and do good. He sets the mood and pace for us every day.”
On Coach Ron English…
“He is a good coach, a great guy, and a great motivator. It’s not all about football with him, and that is what makes him a great coach.”
On the upcoming season…
“This season is going to be special. Over the summer we came together, bonded and chilled together as one. I say this will be special because this is one of the best feelings I have had about a team since I have been here. We just have to find our identity. We want it to be fast, physical, and aggressive, and we are going to work towards that in camp this week. Every rep at a time we are going to give relentless effort. Once we form our fast, physical, aggressive identity, then we will play like that all the time.”
